Changes to the Protection of Freedoms Bill have been published which are designed to increase protection for unpublished research. The proposal, if passed, would make an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 enabling institutions to claim an exemption where their research is ongoing and where its disclosure, before the date of publication, would substantially prejudice the research. Further details of the progress of the bill which will be of interest to all FE and HE institutions that hold research information intended for future publication are available on the Home Office website at -
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/legislation/protection-freedoms-bill/. Access to the Notice of Amendments is available here -
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2010-2012/0189/amend/pbc1891509a.3351.html. You can keep up to date with the progress of the Protection of Freedoms Bill on the
JISC Legal Law Watch section of the website.